Category Archives: Coffee Shops, cafes and bistros

Satellite Coffee

Leave a reply

Satellite Coffee at 2813 6th Avenue, Tacoma

I’ve heard such good things about Satellite Coffee and was glad to stop at their Sixth Avenue today, even though I’m going to be awake way into the night now! (Note to self, decaf after 3!). It was smaller than I expected and really flows into the adjacent restaurant, MASA. Although there is a walk up ordering window, I choose to go inside where it was warm. My Americano was good and reasonably priced (under $3 for a medium sized one). My barista was friendly. There was plenty of parking right out front, but I can see where parking has the potential of being a problem.

Their coffee is Stumptown Coffee, out of Portland, OR. http://www.stumptowncoffee.com/

They get their baked goods from Corinas Bakery. http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=2063

Satellite Coffee Co.’s main web presence is its Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/tacomasatellite

In addition to this location, there are two other Satellite Coffees in Tacoma, one downtown and one near Wright Park. (Updated note, there is now only one other location, the one in the Stadium (see blog entry http://blog.firsttries.com/?p=5790)

Here is an article about Satellite Coffee, though more about its downtown location. http://www.tacomaweekly.com/news/business/satellite_coffee_combines_with_smooth_and_juicey_on_market_street/

Burger King morphs into Starbucks

Leave a reply

 

 Today I went to Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), but all the coffee shops and bookstores were closed for the new year holiday.  I needed a book, so I veered off to the Lakewood Barnes and Noble, but I couldn’t count that as a new place.  On the way I went past a yet unrecorded Starbucks.  Good old Starbucks.  This one use to be a Burger King and you can tell by looking at it.  The worker said that Starbucks had been there for about 6 to 7 years and they had originally thought about making a loft area where the burger places’ play area had been.  But in the end they went with the tall ceiling instead.  Starbucks only has half of the building and the rest is available for lease.

10314 S Tacoma Way, Lakewood – (253) 984-0898

Beyond the Bridge Cafe

Leave a reply
2010 was a good year for new coffee houses in Tacoma. One of the best is Beyond the Bridge Cafe at 2717 6th Avenue Tacoma, WA 98406 – (253) 572-9199. My dear daughter and I went thinking at first that it was at the west end of Sixth Avenue near the Narrows Bridge, but it was more towards the center/east end of Sixth. It had a unique art/coffee house feel with plenty of big comfy chairs. A different art bird was painted on to each of the tables and the wall also had a mural. This is the kind of place people come with their laptops and settle in for a while. The art on display made it all the more interesting and was reasonably priced.

We ordered a latte for me, a vanilla Italian soda for the teen and a full monty bagel sandwich minus the bacon to share. They forgot the drinks, but felt bad about it and not only gave us our drinks but a get two free card. In addition to coffee, they offer wine and beer. The sandwich was very tasty and so were the drinks once they arrived.

http://beyondthebridgecafe.com/

http://www.facebook.com/bbc4life?ref=ts&v=info

Note:  I’m sad to say that Beyond the Bridge Cafe closed its doors on May 14, 2011.

http://www.weeklyvolcano.com/entertainment/spew-blog/2011/05/The-last-day-of-Beyond-the-Bridge-Cafe-tacoma-coffee-shop-closes-ben-and-patricia-rubke/

Traditions Cafe & World Folk Art

Leave a reply

Ever since one of my Flickr friends posted a photo of a lovely pair of earring that he purchased at Traditions Cafe & World Folk Art in downtown Olympia, I’ve been wanting to try it out. The place has two components, the store and the restaurant but there is an easy flow between the two. We ordered our delicious and filling paninis at the counter and the staff brought them out to us. Afterward we shopped a bit and I purchased a green hat that I love and some dead sea salt soap. What struck me about both the store and the cafe parts is how happy every one seemed to be, both the employees and the customers. I’m sure we’ll be back 🙂

Their website is here
http://www.traditionsfairtrade.com/pages/tradhome.html

An explanation of the concept of Fair Trade is here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade

Corina’s Bakery

Leave a reply

It must be a weekend for going to nice bakeries, because today’s new place is Corina’s Bakery at 510 6th Avenue in the Merlino Art Center Building. It is a wonderful bakery with cakes, cupcakes, scones, coffee drinks, etc. There are tables and a saw folks visiting, knitting and working on laptops.

http://www.corinabakery.com/

Here is a great article about the bakery.
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/a-piece-of-cake.htm

The building was constructed in 1924 as an Odd Fellows Hall. If you want to see a photo of the building from 1977, look here:

http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=2&o=2&n=14172&i=1856#text

 

Flying Boots Restaurant & Spur Room

Leave a reply
Flying Boots Cafe and Spur Room, so tonight I stopped to take a photo and consider it as my new place of the day. Tacoma Public Library shows the Flying Boots Cafe opening in 1930 and the new cafe opening in 1955 after remodeling. The bar part of the restaurant is called the Spur Room, and yes they have Karaoke. At night the neon wings on the boot turn on and off.

Flying Boots Restaurant & Spur
614 South 38th Street
Tacoma, WA 98418-6716
(253) 475-9628

 

Keep Clam

Leave a reply

 One of the few fast food restaurants that I actually like is Ivar’s Seafood Bar. I’m not sure how it got that name, since there is no ‘bar’ at the bar! These little restaurants have good food (mostly fried), extra friendly staff and are clean.

Ivar’s website informs me that there are 26 seafood bar locations, 25 of which are in Washington State and 1 is in Santa Clara, California. In addition there are more refined restaurants and also there are stands at local stadiums.

Per the website, the name Ivar’s Acres of Clams came from the last verse of “The Old Settler.”

No longer a slave to ambition
I laugh at the world and its shams
As I survey my happy condition
Surrounded by acres of clams.

http://ivars.com/

James Center
1820 South Mildred
Tacoma, WA 98409
(253) 565-5196
Sunday-Thurs 10:30am to 10pm
Friday-Saturday 10:30am to 11pm

Amazing Americano at Metro Coffee

1 Reply
I had heard good things about Metro Coffee, so I stopped in this evening when I had an meeting on the University of Washington, Tacoma campus. It has a small space in one of the historic brick building and an approprately funky coffee shop feel, but mostly I’m impressed with the coffee. It was very, very good. And the service was great too!

1901 Jefferson Ave # B
Tacoma, WA 98402-1611
(253) 627-8152

http://www.tacoma.uw.edu/features/campus-culture/favorite-places-metro-coffee

Here is a fun review of Tacoma coffee shops based on the foam of their tall cappuccino. 
http://i.feedtacoma.com/Erik/blackwater-satellite-coffee-showdown-tacoma/#comments

 

Hazelwood Road Gourmet Coffee

Leave a reply
I knew it was going to be a long day at work and I thought I’d treat myself to an Americano. So I stopped at Hazelwood Road Gourmet Coffee and Car Wash on Sprague Avenue. I was a tad grumpy that it took so long, but to their credit somebody came outside to take my order and they didn’t charge me! And it really was a good cup of coffee. So all my complaints went away and I’ll be back.

A yummy, but crowded lunch at Panera Bread

Leave a reply

 

I know it’s a big chain, but I really like Panera Bread. Their food is tasty, service is pleasant and the decor is attractive. So, I was pleased when when one recently opened at the near by Tacoma Mall. I’m not a big fan of malls, but there is an outside door so I didn’t have to actually go into the mall. My only complaint with this new Panera is that it was too crowded and the tables where too close together.

4502 S. Steel Street, Tacoma, WA

http://www.panerabread.com/